Mother Nature attends EH Open House Uninvited...

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...." or, in my case, "let it ice, let it ice, let it ice." If you don't live in the area then you may not be aware of the huge ice storm that struck St. Louis area the night before the open house event and knocked out power for about 500,000 people for a day or so, and by the weekend, there were still about 400,000 people without power. While I never lost power, I did lose sales. Needless to say, there were more important things on my customers' minds than buying French soaps, bun candles, or peppermint foot scrub soap. And I don't blame them. But we had our open house as planned and we did get a few brave souls who came out and I was happy to see them and had nice chats.

Speaking of visiting and chatting, during my open house, while chatting away with customers and friends (okay, actually they are all in the same), I saw a young man in my store, going over every inch of it and he looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. It turns out his name is Brandon, who came all the way from Iowa just for my open house! Brandon visited my store several months ago and he and his mother are planning on opening up a store, and he wanted to go to Elizabeth House for inspiration - how flattering is that? For now at least, Brandon plans on calling his store, "House Things." I look forward to visit yours store someday, Brandon.

Above are photos of my exterior. The photos really don't show the windows very well. But basically, my theme this year was very simple and very still. Peace. Peaceful. Quiet. Something I haven't had in quite a while - just to be still. While I am lucky to have a lot energy, a busy social life, and something always "cooking" in my head - I do have a side that most never see - especially me. And that is my quiet side. A chance to just "be." What exactly does that mean? Oh it can mean different things to different people, but for me, it simply means be in the here and now. Not thinking about or regretting the past, nor planning and working for the future, but just to really enjoy today, who I am today, what I am doing today, and the place I am. When I take those rare moments to really just "be," I find myself more content, more happy, and more peaceful. For me, the trick is to be able to "be" more often. And so my theme.

My theme is very basic encompassing simple paper. Paper leaves, paper "EH" everywhere, paper walls, and paper cones. I also added simple, pure snow. It is in my window, on my table and sprinkled here and there. The store is sort of like a snow globe that has been left to rest....For well over a year now, I have been a snow globe that has been shaken quite a bit - so much so that my snow globe looked like a friggin blizzared. Well, I am determined that this coming year, my snow globe is going to rest a bit. Let the snow settle and take more time to just "be."

Don't misunderstand me, my snow globe's blizzard was filled with excitement, hard work, joy, sadness, challenges, new dreams, broken dreams, travels, phone calls, visitors, laughter, crying....basically my "blizzard" was a very passionate life. Now that I am ready to watch the snow fall quietly to the ground for rest - by no means does that mean less passion. It simply means I am going to be very passionate about just "being."

Passionately calm surrounded by elegant things and warm hearts a great life it does make.

May your snow globe be as snowy, or as quiet as you wish in the coming year. Merry Christmas!

From my snow globe to your snow globe,
Elizabeth
www.elizabethhouse.us

P.S. I still can't figure out how to load in a lot of photos, so look at the table of contents and there are several postings after this one. They are all titled "EH Open House Photos." NOTE: You will need to hit the "back" button at the top of your screen. I am less than thrilled with this site and how its table of contents work. Then just click on the next posting in the table of contents that comes above this one and then work you way up the list to see it in order. Thanks for being patient. I have been trying to post this for over 5 days now. The internet wouldn't upload it, then the photos would disappear, then the text would be messed up. You name it. Anyway, glad to have gotten up finally!

Christmas Open House set for December 1st!

Can you believe that it is that time of year again? It is time for Maplewood's annual Christmas Tree walk! For those of you unfamiliar with my location, my shop is actually located in Maplewood, just two blocks outside the St. Louis city limits.

What is the Christmas tree walk? All the little boutiques in the area will stay open until 9 or 10PM on Friday, December 1st. We all decorate our windows and stores and stock them with gift items. There will be a trolley, a Santa, lighting ceremony and so on. There are hundereds of people who attend this event and St. Louis Magazine voted it last year as one of the top 10 things to do in St. Louis during the holiday season.

There is a window decorating contest and most shops serve food and drink. Last year, I did the store all up for New Years' - all chocolate and gold. I served champaign punch and everything chocolate. I even had a bubble machine on my balconey over the store. The entire ceiling was covered with gold and chocolate balloons. I also had about 400 glass balls hanging from lights and chandeliers to represent champaign bubbles. It was a lot of fun.

What am I going to do this year? Well, it will be much more simpler than last year. Last year was the first Christmas as a very newly divorced woman, and I decided I just wanted to skip Christmas all together and go right into the new year...remember what I said about having a personal theme when doing your displays? Doing a New Year's theme was very personal to me last year.

Well, this year, I have another personal theme that I will explain to you after the 1st. It will be different from year's past, but it will have real meaning to me, although not clear at all to anyone else. But that is okay.

I am excited to announce that I am starting my own line of Elizabeth House Products. This first batch is for the body: Bath Infusion, Soaps, Diffusers, and Body Butter. I designed these with an artisian who uses only pure and essential oils. I will have a new posting about my products in the near future. But I am very pleased with them.

I will also have many items on sale - especially my floor sample items such as my queen bed, dining set, and mantel. I am ready to restock the store with fresh inventory, but have no room! So, on the 1st, there will be some very good deals on the bigger pieces.

I will also have some gift baskets, lavender, French Soaps, candles, sachets, hand-crafted journals, hand-crafted charms on ribbon, locally made chocolate bark in many flavors, and gift books. I will have some seasonal items, though not a lot. And all seasonal items will be on sale as well. I usually stock gift items that are different, great price point, and special.

I will be closed the Tues -Thursday prior to the Friday the 1st in order to get everything ready. I will open on Friday, December 1st at 4PM and remain open until 9 or 10PM. The elves will be busy!

I am looking forward to spending the evening visiting with my friends and clients. I use this evening to catch up on what is going on and how everyone is doing. If you are able to stop by, I would love to visit with you. I will be the one holding the champaign glass, laughing and hugging everyone!

I want to wish you all a very special Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those who know me know that it is no secret that I give my greatest thanks to my Lord for blessing me with my friends, family, health, my talents, and my ability to help others. I am eternally grateful for these gifts.

I hope you feel blessed this season as well.

From my house to your house,
Elizabeth
www.elizabethhouse.us

Welcome my new Gem!

 
I would like you to meet my new gem - who is not a diamond in the rough, but all shiny and polished and ready for a setting. I am just lucky that the setting is Elizabeth House. Please welcome Ara. She and I met about four years ago when I first opened my store. She walked in, and we immediately bonded. We chatted for a long while - and then, we never saw each other again. She had just moved from San Francisco, and I from Texas. She was married and so was I. She worked in the creative field, has traveled to numerous places, and so have I. But after that first, and only meeting, we never saw each other again.

I placed a blind ad for the position at EH, and she answered it. After reading her email and resume, I sent her my website and told her about the store. She emailed back and said, "we already met!" I didn't recognize her name, but I recognized her beautiful hair the moment I met her for her interview.

A lot has happened since we first met. I divorced and she is now divorced. She has a fiance who has a knack for antiques, and my love for antiques keeps growing. She has just moved into a beautiful home in Soulard, and I have, since first meeting her, moved into the apartment above the store, which was featured in Mary Englebreit's Home Companion magazine. The list goes on and on.

Needless to say, I feel very blessed to have her be a part of the EH family and feel that Ara will make our customers feel at home at EH. So, please welcome Ara when you visit the store. She is the one that is all "shiny and polished."

From my house to your house,
Elizabeth
www.elizabethhouse.us